Racially Abused: Chiefs’ Brashard Smith Delivers Bold Message After Comparisons to Other NFL RBs – “Just Because I’m Black, They Want to Box Me In”
Kansas City, MO — May 5, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith is no stranger to making headlines, but this time, it wasn’t because of his explosive 75-yard touchdown run or his uncanny ability to break tackles. It was because of his words—raw, emotional, and bold—spoken into a microphone with the weight of a storm behind them.
In the wake of a viral post comparing him to a string of other Black NFL running backs, Smith took to the podium after Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. His words weren’t about stats, schemes, or rivalries. They were about identity.
> “Just because I’m Black, they want to box me in,” Smith said, his voice trembling with controlled anger. “They say I ‘run like Alvin Kamara,’ I ‘cut like Dalvin Cook,’ and I ‘break tackles like Marshawn.’ But they don’t say I’m Brashard Smith. Why can’t I just be me?”
The comparisons, while seemingly harmless to some, touched a deeper nerve. A now-deleted tweet from a popular sports network likened Smith to “every explosive Black RB to ever play the game,” sparking backlash online. But the true storm came when anonymous NFL insiders reportedly said Smith “won’t last as long” due to his “reckless style”—a remark Smith felt was racially coded.
> “When a white quarterback scrambles, he’s called ‘dynamic’ or ‘a dual-threat.’ When I run hard, I’m ‘reckless,’” Smith said. “There’s a difference in how they talk about us. And I’m tired of pretending not to notice.”
His coach, Andy Reid, stood by him.
> “Brashard is one of the smartest, hardest-working guys I’ve coached,” Reid told reporters. “The comparisons are lazy. He’s not the next anybody. He’s the first Brashard Smith.”
Social media erupted in support. Teammates like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce posted messages praising Smith’s courage. Mahomes tweeted: “Proud of my brother. Keep speaking truth, Brashard. You’re changing the game in more ways than one.”
But not all responses were positive. Some fans accused Smith of “playing the race card” or “being too sensitive,” prompting further debate about the racial undertones often present in how athletes are categorized.
Dr. Jamal Whitaker, a sports sociologist at the University of Missouri, explained: “What Brashard is experiencing isn’t new. Black athletes have historically been praised for physicality and instinct, but rarely intellect or individuality. It’s a subtle form of stereotyping that dehumanizes.”
Smith ended his presser with a message that left the room in heavy silence.
> “I’m not asking to be better than anyone. I’m just asking to be seen—as a full person. Not a comparison, not a stereotype. Just Brashard.”
As the Chiefs prepare for next week’s showdown with the Chargers, Smith’s words continue to ripple through the sports world. More than a football player, he’s become a voice—bold, unapologetic, and unignorable.
